Martin Luther King Day on the Web

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 16 January 2017 > Webpicks

These videos will help you discuss Martin Luther King Day in class. The third Monday in January, close to MLK’s birthday on the 15th, is a federal holiday and a day of service when citizens are encouraged to volunteer in their communities. This 60-second Public Service Announcement for the day of service s simple – … Continue reading “Martin Luther King Day on the Web”

Women Unite

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 16 January 2017 > In the News

There will be a big event in Washington on 21 January. No, not the Inauguration. The day after Donald Trump enters the White House, women’s organisations are calling for women to mobilise to make it clear that they will defend their rights against any threat from the new administration. Donald Trump managed to offend many … Continue reading “Women Unite”

2020: The Year of Women

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 16 January 2017 > In the News

A campaign to get a woman honoured by featuring on an American banknote had even more success than the campaigners hoped. Both women and ethnic minority figures will feature on dollar bills by 2020, the centenary of women’s suffrage in the U.S.! National symbols are a wonderful way into discussing a country’s culture – and … Continue reading “2020: The Year of Women”

Sing: Animals Have Got Talent

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 06 January 2017 > Ready to Use

In this A1 towards A2 article, your students will read about Sing (Tous en scène), the recent American computer-animated musical directed by Garth Jennings and produced by Illumination Entertainment, with the voices of Matthew McConaughey and Scarlett Johansson among other famous actors. Set in a world inhabited only by animals, it centres around a music … Continue reading “Sing: Animals Have Got Talent”

Teaching with Trailers: Sing

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 06 January 2017 > Webpicks

The trailers for Sing, an animated musical film about a singing competition, provide lots of opportunities for language teaching – vocabulary about animals and music, following or telling a simple story, or organising a talent show. You’ll find two versions of the trailer below. The first one is simple, usable from A1+. The dialogue is … Continue reading “Teaching with Trailers: Sing”

Born to Sing

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 06 January 2017 > What's On

Sing is a feelgood movie about a singing competition designed to save a failing theatre in a city entirely populated by animals. From the animators who made Despicable Me, The Minions and The Secret Life of Pets, Sing is full of humour, hit songs and anthropomorphic animals. It is based on a trope we’re all … Continue reading “Born to Sing”

Apprendre à apprendre

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 20 December 2016 > Pedagogy

Que signifie pour un élève la consigne « apprendre sa leçon » ? Que faut-il faire exactement ? La lire plusieurs fois, la copier, apprendre les mots et expressions nouveaux, les utiliser en contexte pour produire un message… ? Avec quels documents, quels outils (cahier, manuel, site internet de l’établissement…) ? Et comment l’élève saura-t-il qu’il connaît sa leçon ? … Continue reading “Apprendre à apprendre”

The Big Founder!

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 20 December 2016 > What's On

McDonald’s is the company which represents what people love or hate the most about America. This biopic, based on the book of the same name covers the main moments in the company’s history. It begins in 1954 when Ray Kroc (the Founder of the title) meets the McDonald brothers in their fast-food restaurant in San … Continue reading “The Big Founder!”